Court convicts ‘fake’ INEC worker in Cross River

A magistrate’s court in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, has sentenced a 24-year-old man, Mr. Obot Silas, to a six-month jail term for parading himself as a worker of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Silas was charged with operating a fraudulent employment syndicate, falsely presenting himself as an INEC worker and obtaining money from the public, to which he pleaded guilty.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Mike Igini, said following actionable information to INEC of a syndicate fraudulently engaged in an illegal recruitment exercise, the police were informed, arrest was made, incriminating fake employment forms of unsuspecting job seekers were recovered, leading to the arraignment of Silas.

He said: “The convict, who presented himself as an INEC worker on September 28 at Limit Hotel, Mayne Avenue, Calabar, under false pretence, fraudulently obtained N12,000, N7,000, N4,000 and N5,000 from four people that he is a worker with INEC capable of providing them with employment in the commission, thereby contravening Section 108 of the Criminal Code under which he was charged at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Calabar.

“The conviction underscores the call by INEC to the public to beware of claims by individuals or groups operating as a syndicate, who exploit the unemployment in the country to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians to pay money for employment.

“INEC under the leadership of Prof. Attahiru Jega does not and did not collect fees or charges from those that the commission recently employed.

“We enjoin anyone requested to pay fees or charges to cross-check first with my office or any of our area offices, specifically through our public affairs departments for clarification before dealing with anyone on any issues concerning the activities of INEC.

“Anyone with information on any person or groups collecting such fees or charges for employment in the name of the commission should report such illegal activities to the nearest police station or the nearest INEC office.

“We hope the conviction of Mr. Silas will act as a deterrent to other criminally-minded groups and public organisations, which collect fees and charges from job seekers.”